Rubber protector



Oct. 30, 1945. R RNER 2,388,097

RUBBER PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 13, 1943 abrasive particles.

Patented Oct. 30, 1945 2,388,697 I RUBBER PRQTEQTOR Russell J. Turner, Butler, Pa. I Application November 13, 1943 Serial No. 510,248 (o1. 288-2) 3 Claims.

' This invention relates generally toelastic protectors and more particularly to an elastic protector having resilient and flexible properties such as rubber, which protector is in the form of a sleeve for shielding a plunger, rod, shaft or the like from the erosive action of fluids carrying The protector comprising this invention is adapted to be placed over a rod member which I extends between and operates within two housings' or casings that have relative movement axially of therod, for the purpose of protecting the latter which is exposed to the erosive action of fluid carrying abrasive properties. A structure of this'character is employed in conjunction with a roll adjusting mechanism for a three high strip rolling mill where water under high pressure is dischargedagainst the steel passing through the rolls and picks up scale, dirt and other loose particles. These particles strike the piston rod or plunger with such force that they cut or tightly adhere to the surface thereof and upon entering the close fitting chambers within which the rod member works, cause the latter to freeze. To

free the rod member it is necess'ary to stop the and dismantle the mechanism which at times is so badly damaged when dismantled that it must be replaced.

' The principal object of this invention is to provide a protective shield for movable machine parts, which "shield is impervious to the erosive action of abrasive particles.

Another object is the provision of a protective sleeve shield that does not rely on fastening elements to produce a sealed enclosure, that prevents abrasive particles from coming in contact with the member being protected.

Another object is the provision of a rubber sleeve protector having flanged ends made of rubber with a different degree of hardness than the intermediate portion which flexes when the sleeve is in operative position.

Another object is the provision of a sleeve protector of relatively soft rubber having integral flanged ends of harder rubber which are so disposed relative to the sleeve that an axial compressive force causes the sleeve to expand radi ally outwardly.

Another object is the provision of a sleeve protector having annular flanged ends which are dished to produce a seal and control the direction of the flexing of the intermediate portion of the sleeve.

Other objects and advantages appear In th following descriptions and claims.

- UNITED srA'rEs' PATENT OFFICE In the accompanying drawing apractical embodiment illustrating the principles ofthe invention is shown wherein: j l Fig.1 is a sectional view taken axially of the rubber sleeve protector comprising this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken axially of the rubber sleeve protector showing it mounted under initial compression.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rubber sleeve protector expanded under a compressive force.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one flange of the rubber sleeve protector when subjected to compressive force.

Referring principally to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the rubber protector sleeve I0 is in the shape of a spool comprising the cylindrical sleeve body II of uniform wall thickness and the annular flanges I2 at the end of the body. The flanges I2 have frusto conical faces and project radially from the body and diverge outwardly from each. other, producing a dished or concave spool end. In the particular spool shown the outer face I3 of each flange is disposed at an angle of approximately ten degrees to a plane normal to the spool axis and the inner face I4 is approximately forty-five degrees. Both the outer and inner surface are slightly convex between their radial limits. Adjacent the perimeter of the flanges the inner face I4 is steeper, being disposed at an angle of approximately sixty degrees, as indicated at I5, which surface forms a sharp perimetral edge I6 with the outer face I3. This construction provides a firm sealing edge with an included angle of approximately fifty degrees, which is superior to one produced by an included angle of thirtyfive degrees which would be formed by the faces I3 and I4.

The flanges I2 are formed integral with the cylindrical body II of the spool although the rubber from which they are made is harder or stiffer. The rubber from which'the body II is made has a hardness of from twenty-five to thirty, whereas the hardness of the flanges range from sixty to sixty-five. These readings have been determined When the spool is mounted under sufficient initial compression between two housings or blocks, such as indicated at 20 and 2| in Fig. 2, the end faces or outer sides l3 of the flanges l2 flatten against the surfaces of the blocks. Owing to the angular disposition of the faces [3 the perimetral edges [6 form a fluid-tight seal with the surface of the block. Since rubber is incompressible the whole of the triangular flange section I2 must deform to flatten the face l3 against the housing or block. The perimeter l6 expands and the whole of th triangular flange section l2, in efiect,, rotates the heel 22 at the section, which movement forces the angle I 9 inwardly of the bore as indicated at 23 in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The body ll being of a softer rubber offers less resistance to this movement of the flange IL This annular indentation 23 adjacent the ends of the flange angles I9 produces a compressive force around the body portion, which intermediate of its ends is substantially normal in shape. This annular indentation 23 thus initially flexe the body H at these zones, creating a tendency for the ends of the body" I lta bulge the intermediate portion outwardly, which is exactly-what happens when the spool is subjected to-additional compression as the blocks and 21 converge and thepi'ston 24' enters furtherinto the respective bores, as in- Fig. 3. Thisaction occu-rs due to the shaping of the outer flange face I3 and not because oi the di fierence between the hardness of the flange L2 and the body H, although such a difference in the hardness of these sections naturally expedites the flexing tendencies of the bod-y;

131v constructing the spool inthis manner a fluid tight seal will be formed by the flange- IE2 on the blocks 2'0 and 21 and theflexu-re of the intermediate portion of the body outwardly will be insured when the spool is subjected to material axial compression. Thus when the spool is surrounding" a rod or shaft that has sharp edges,

slots; holes orthe like, it will always flex outwardly away from the path where it is likely to be injured. This is' an important object of this invention.

As previously stated it is not necessary to have the body I I of softer rubber-togiiide ordirect its deflection but it is preferable to employ the scatter rubber in the body for two' reasons? first, because it will stand up undera more frequent and greater degree of fiexure and, secondly, because it is better able to resist the bombardment of abrasive particles carried by fluid under pressure. The

stiffer flange sections on the other hand produce better sealing qualities and form a firm integral foundation for the body of the spool.

I claim: I

1. A flexible protector body for disposition about a member operable in aligned openings in spaced blocks movable relative to each other, consisting of a cylindrical rubber sleeve, a radi lly disposed rubber flange integral with each end? of the sleeve forming a spool, and concave end fa' es onsaid; arrangettito flatten int cngagem t on said blocks when under initial compression to cause the bore of the sleeve to bulge inwardly at the flanges and direct the centrally adjacent portions. of the sleeve annularly outwardly to properly guide the flexing of the intermediate portion cf the sleeve when the blocks move closer togethen.

2. A flexible protector body for disposition about: a member operable in aligned openings in spacedblocks movable relative to each other, consisting of a cyl-nrdri'calrubber sleeve, aradially disposed rubber flange integral eachend of tiresl'eeve, each flange being broad at itsbase and extending o utwardiy to" an apexlat the flange perimeter, and concave enclf'aces ontheflanges arranged to'ffatten in engagement on" said blocks when under initial compression'to cause thebore of the sleeve 'adfacent'tlrefiang-es'tq bulge inwardly' and direct the centrally adjacent portions of the sleeve annularly outwardly to properly guide the flexing of the intermediate portion-pf the sleeve whenthe blocks move closer" together.

3. flexible protector body for disposition about a member operable in aligned openings i'n spaced blocks movable relative to each other; consisting 01 a cylindrical rubber sleeve; a radially disposed rubber flange integral with each emf of the sleeve, each flange being triangular in cross section and. extending from thebore outwardly to an apexat the: flange perimeter, therubb'e'r of the flanges being harder than the rubber of the sleeve, and concavez'end faces on the. flanges ar- 

